Sports coach

As a sports coach, you'll motivate people to achieve their full physical and mental potential, improving their sporting performance along the way.

You could work with a variety of people at different levels, ranging from schools or community teams to professional leagues, as well as individuals who may be competing at national or international levels. You may take on a more pastoral role, encouraging underrepresented groups or young people to participate in sporting activities.

You'll aim to improve abilities by inspiring others, identifying needs and implementing suitable training programmes. Whatever the context and level, coaching involves developing participants' physical and psychological fitness and providing the best conditions to maximise performance.

Depending on the level you're working at, you may need to combine coaching with another job to supplement your income. Some coaching roles, particularly at school or community level, are voluntary or part time.

Responsibilities

As a sports coach, you'll need to:

• evaluate performance and provide suitable feedback, giving praise and motivation, as well as constructive criticism
• assess strengths and weaknesses in a participant's performance, identifying areas for further development
• adapt to the needs and interests of a group or individuals
• communicate instructions and commands using clear and simple language
• demonstrate an activity by breaking the task down into a sequence
• encourage participants to gain and develop skills, knowledge and techniques
• ensure people train and perform to a consistently high standard of health and safety
• inspire confidence and self-belief
• develop your knowledge and understanding of fitness, injury, sports psychology, nutrition and sports science
• work with IT-based resources to monitor and measure performance
• act as a role model, gaining the respect and trust of the people you work with
• liaise with other partners in performance management, such as physiotherapists, doctors and nutritionists
• work to legal and ethical standards, particularly in relation to issues such as child safeguarding, and health and safety requirements.

You may also carry out planning and administration work, which will require you to:

• produce personalised training programmes
• maintain records of performance
• coordinate participants' attendance at meetings and other sports events
• plan and run programmes of activities for groups and individuals
• transport participants to and from training sessions and events
• seek and apply for sponsorship agreements
• find appropriate competitions for participants
• market and promote your services if you're self-employed
• plan your own work schedule.

Salary

• Typical starting salaries for newly qualified sports coaches working for local authorities range from £18,000 to £26,000, depending on location and qualifications.
• For senior coaches employed by National Governing Bodies or professional sports clubs, salaries average around £32,500.
• Some experienced coaches have the potential to earn more than £90,000. However, this is likely to be for roles at national or international level.

In professional sport, coaches may earn a basic salary with additional bonuses related to competition results, prize money earned or standard of performance. Packages may include company cars or medical insurance.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Many sports coaches work early mornings, evenings or weekends. Work may also be seasonal for some sports, and hours can increase in the run-up to major competitions and events. If you coach in a school, the work may be term-time only, and hours can vary.

Part-time work and self-employment are also quite common.

What to expect

• The majority of sports coaches in the UK are volunteers, so finding a full-time paid position can be challenging. You may need to build experience in voluntary roles first or get a part-time job to supplement your coaching income.
• Coaching work can be carried out in different environments, including schools and universities, gyms and leisure centres, and playing fields. You're likely to be outside in adverse weather conditions for some of the sessions.
• According to research by UK Coaching, women are currently underrepresented, accounting for just 38% of all coaches. However, initiatives such as the Women & Sport Insight Hub aim to advance gender equity and equality in sport, including coaching.
• It's likely you'll need to work unsocial hours. Some jobs are offered on a fixed-term contract, meaning you'll always need to be on the lookout for future work.
• Frequent travel to reach facilities or attend competitions, often involving considerable distances, may be necessary.
• Absence from home overnight and travel throughout the UK and abroad may be necessary, depending on the sport and the level at which you're involved.

Qualifications

You don't usually need a degree, HND or foundation degree to become a sports coach, but having one can give you an advantage. Relevant subjects include:

• health science
• sport coaching and development
• sports management
• sport and exercise science.

While relevant academic qualifications may provide a useful background, you can only qualify as a coach by gaining the appropriate coaching qualification from your sport's National Governing Body (NGB). For a list of NGBs, visit UK Sport.

Coaching qualifications vary in length and cost, depending on the NGB. Most offer a Level 1 course as an entry level, which generally allows you to work as a coaching assistant under supervision. If you wish to plan and lead sessions, you'll typically need a Level 2 coaching qualification.

Depending on the NGB, you may be able to complete a Level 1 course from the age of 16. However, you may not be able to get paid, particularly within schools, or work with younger children until you're 18.

You can progress through the coaching qualifications as you gain experience, with Level 4 being available for international, senior or high-performing sports coach roles.

Courses may be full time, part time or taken via distance learning.

Some sports-related degrees can offer the opportunity to gain coaching qualifications while you're studying.

The number of vacancies and level of competition for jobs tends to be related to the popularity and participation rates for your chosen sport. Some areas are particularly competitive, with progress dependent on reputation and results. Increasingly, there are opportunities for multi-skilled coaches with certificates in several activities.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• a strong passion for sports and sporting activities
• the ability to develop successful working relationships with people from different backgrounds and with varying levels of ability
• a desire to help other people succeed through motivation and inspiration
• an aptitude for leadership
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• team building ability and leadership skills
• enthusiasm, flexibility and patience
• awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion issues, especially those related to sport and disability
• motivational skills and an understanding of the psychology that underpins successful competition, particularly at senior coaching levels
• organisational skills
• a strong interest in maintaining professional skills and knowledge.

Community coaching roles require the ability and enthusiasm to work with large groups of children. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this area of work.

Work experience

Volunteering and part-time work are the main ways into sports coaching, and many people continue this way alongside other employment. Try to get involved with the sport of your choice at a community, local or regional level. You might start by helping at a club in a general role before progressing to assistant coach.

Being a member of a club at your university will also provide useful experience. Networking with sports development officers within local authorities can also be a productive way of gaining employment.

Also, consider joining the ConnectedCoaches community. This aims to bring together coaches at all levels to share tips and support each other with career progression and development.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Typical employers include:

• charitable sports trusts and local authorities
• schools
• colleges and universities
• sports councils
• sport National Governing Bodies
• private sports clubs
• hotels
• fitness centres
• leisure facilities.

It's also possible to work one-to-one with professional sportspeople on a self-employed basis. You'll need good results to retain clients and maintain job security.

Holiday camps and organisations, such as PGL, recruit coaches to deliver a variety of activities, mainly during school holidays. You can also arrange to work abroad for the summer, particularly in the USA, through organisations like BUNAC and Camp America.

Many professional football clubs run community schemes where coaches train others to become involved in fundraising events and sporting activities in primary schools. Appropriately qualified and experienced coaches may be able to find work within such schemes.

There are numerous opportunities to coach in schools covering teacher non-contact time and out-of-school clubs.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Careers in Sport
• Leisure Opportunities
• LG Jobs
• Sport Scotland

Sporting bodies and individual clubs advertise vacancies directly on their websites. Therefore, target your search on the sport you'd like to be involved in to find opportunities. For links to sporting bodies, search on UK Sport.

While word of mouth is a key source of work for self-employed coaches, many also advertise through their own websites, directory-style websites or on social media. Platforms such as LinkedIn, for example, can be an effective way of advertising your services.

In some cases, such as in professional football, roles may not be advertised, and suitable candidates are often approached directly. In many areas of coaching and instruction, however, you'll need to be proactive in seeking opportunities and maintaining networks. This could be done through voluntary work.

Professional development

Membership of UK Coaching is useful for career development and gives you access to relevant resources, free and discounted continuing professional development (CPD) learning, and networking opportunities.

They provide a wide variety of coaching courses and training opportunities. These include online courses, webinars, face-to-face training and formal coaching qualifications. A range of topics are available, including:

• safeguarding and protecting children
• concussion awareness
• creating a successful coaching environment
• equality in sport
• behaviour change tactics.

They've also set up a Coach Learning Framework, which aims to help sports coaches grow and develop their knowledge and confidence. It covers nine themes, which include topics such as understanding the individual, skills acquisition, sport psychology, and health and lifestyle. This framework can help you identify any skills gaps and what training you may need.

Further training may take the form of gaining advanced coaching qualifications, following the structure provided by the relevant sport's National Governing Body, or by developing expertise in a specific area, such as strength and conditioning.

The Level 1 coaching award is sufficient for you to gain employment, usually at an assistant coach level. However, continuing to develop professional skills and knowledge is an important part of career progression, and further certificates will enhance your employability.

You'll also need to keep up to date with a range of issues within the professional sports sector, including nutrition, scientific research and sports psychology.

Work with children will require you to study for courses in child safeguarding and protection, and you'll typically need to be a qualified first-aider.

Career prospects

It takes time to develop coaching skills and build a strong reputation, so career progression can be gradual and may depend heavily on your motivation and commitment. Being geographically flexible can also broaden your opportunities.

For sports coaches working with professionals, progression often depends on results, which may be measured by a performer's achievements or the overall quality of participants' experiences.

Career development also relies on effectively marketing your services and skills to potential clients. Coaches frequently diversify their work, supported by continual professional development through courses, workshops and staying informed about emerging issues and changes in sporting practice.

Senior posts usually require advanced coaching qualifications and are also more likely to need a degree. The number of posts at this level is limited, and jobs are typically found within sport National Governing Bodies or national teams.

Other potential career paths include coach education, volunteer management or sports administration.